Plenty of former Green Bay Packers players have found new teams this offseason, and now Ka'Dar Hollman, a previous draft selection by the Packers, has joined the Baltimore Ravens.
Jeff Zrebiec with The Athletic posted on X reported that Hollman had secured a contract to play for the Baltimore Ravens next season.
Hollman, a sixth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Packers, previously played for the Toledo Rockets as a walk-on, excelling as a cornerback for the MAC program and earning a chance at the NFL level with over 100 total tackles and two interceptions in 40 college games.
There aren’t many instances of former college walk-ons at small colleges making it to the NFL, so Hollman's ability to secure a contract for his sixth professional season deserves recognition.
Ka’Dar Hollman’s Path to Baltimore
Although he hasn’t become a star player, Hollman has remained in the NFL longer than most Day 3 draft picks.
The 29-year-old participated in 18 games for the Packers after being drafted in 2019, even starting a single game during the 2020 season. Despite this, he saw minimal time on defense, playing just 112 defensive snaps for the Packers over two seasons.
Hollman didn’t complete his rookie deal in Green Bay. Before the start of the 2021 season, the Packers traded Hollman to the Houston Texans for a seventh-round pick, rather than releasing him before the 53-man roster cuts.
After moving around the league and various practice squads for a couple of seasons, Hollman returned to Houston this past season under new head coach DeMeco Ryans, playing in 17 games with 10 total tackles and a fumble recovery, the most he has seen in his career.
Although it's unlikely that Hollman will become a full-time starter, he will aim to establish a role on defense or special teams during Baltimore’s training camp and OTA periods in the coming months.
Other Packers On New Teams
Hollman is receiving another opportunity with a new team, but he’s not the first or most prominent former Packers player to join a new team this offseason.
The most significant change for Packers fans has been Aaron Jones, who was unexpectedly released in favor of a new running back, Josh Jacobs. The former Pro Bowl running back wasted no time in securing a new home, signing a one-year deal with the with the Minnesota Vikings almost immediately after being released by his longtime franchise.
Another NFC North team also took a chance on a former Packers player. The Chicago Bears decided to test safety Jonathan Owens, who spent last season with the Packers. Unfortunately for Packers fans, Owens didn’t have enough impact in Green Bay for the team to re-sign him in 2024.
The Bears and Vikings consistently sign former Packers players every offseason, but the Jones move will be more painful for Green Bay fans than previous years.
